Media releases

One year on from its establishment, Federation University Australia’s National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth and Justice remains focused advocating for Voice, Treaty and Truth.

The Centre was created by Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor Reconciliation, Professor Andrew Gunstone in March 2023 to drive national and regional transformational change in reconciliation.

Professor Gunstone has been joined at the Centre by five Indigenous academics, Professors Bindi Bennett, Dennis Foley, Emma Lee and Emma Gavin, and Research Associate Jesse Fleay.

The Centre also has an Advisory Board with eminent national leaders, Dr Jackie Huggins AM, Emma Garlett, Commissioner Sue-Anne Hunter, Professor Barry Judd, and Peter Morris.

Staff and Advisory Board members are based in five states and two territories across Australia.

The Centre advocated strongly in 2023 for a First Nations Voice - organising many events, writing academic and general publications, and developing a comprehensive resources website.

A highlight was the inaugural Federation University Annual Reconciliation Lecture, organised by the Centre and presented by Indigenous leader Noel Pearson, with more than 1000 people in attendance.

In the past year, the Centre has been highly successful in obtaining significant government and industry funding for transformational projects in areas such as, reconciliation, truth-telling, cultural responsiveness, multicultural engagements, education, conservation, Voice modelling, and the Blue Economy.

“We’re absolutely delighted with all our significant achievements over the past year, through our engagements with industry, governments, community, and academia,” Professor Gunstone said.

“In 2024, we will continue to work on these transformational projects, and with reconciliation and Indigenous organisations across the country on Voice, Treaty and Truth, including with the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria and the Yoorrook Justice Commission in Victoria.”

More information about the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice can be found at, https://federation.edu.au/reconciliation or by following the Centre’s work on LinkedIn.